‘Catfish’, the term means, well being duped via an online relationship. This word came to light when a 2010 documentary examined a deceitful online relationship plus an MTV show which followed after and adopted the same name.
In this internet age, we ways by which we meet people has changed. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home or go to a bar or a friend’s dinner, just to meet new people. There are various social media sites that cater to your relationship needs. Be it the desire to connect with like minds in your career, say hello to LinkedIn. Want to meet the man or woman of your dreamers? The possibilities are endless when it comes to the best dating sites. Although these activities have been made easier for you to engage in, there are a lot of people out there who would take advantage of you when it comes to an online relationship. So, here are some ways by which you can avoid being catfished by sticking to some clever dating rules.
Take things slowly, let the relationship progress in stages
Be wary of anyone who is too quick to profess undying love for you online. Making declarations of love soon after you meet is a red flag. There are also certain requests that should be a no-no for you like sending a nude picture of yourself to someone you just met online. Protect yourself by waiting and watching a little while longer because the person you are falling for might nit be who they claim to be.
Put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and fact check
No matter how convincing he or she might sound, don’t be ashamed to Google them. When you meet someone online, google their names and read up on as much information as possible. If you met them say through Facebook, use the google search with image option to see all accounts linked with that photo. If you find multiple accounts, with different names or even similar names, it most likely is a fake account.
Ask as many questions as possible and don’t feel uncomfortable doing so
Anyone who wants to pursue a relationship with you online or offline would never mind the number of questions you throw at them, most especially if the relationship is online. Ask a lot of difficult to lie questions and fact check the answers the person gives to you. This is a way to protect yourself from anyone who tries to claim to be what they are not.
Don’t keep the relationship a secret
We all want to be the ones to make our own mistakes and choice without any interference from family or friends. Well, as much as this is a lofty idea, when it comes to dating online, don’t hide it from your closest friends. Tell them about this person, where your relationship has progressed too without having to divulge to much information and if they point out any red flag, listen to them and keep them in mind. Your friends and family just care a lot about you.
Trust your intuition
If any part or anything about the relationship makes you uncomfortable or you just have a feeling like something is not right, don’t ignore it. Remember you haven’t met this person so trust your gut when it tells you something is fishy. Try to find out what it is and deal with it in time before you invest any more into the relationship. Remember the saying, ‘it’s always better to be safe than sorry’.
Meet, meet, meet as soon as you can
This is the one sure way of not even being catfished. Don’t keep your relationship strictly online say over text messages, WhatsApp, phone calls or Facebook. As long as it is possible to meet physically, schedule a date and meet. Now, there might be cases where distance might be a problem, so video call. There are different ways by which you can do this. There is skype, facetime, WhatsApp video etc. the list is endless. If for any reason the person refuses or keeps giving excuses why they can’t facetime or skype, it might be that there is sometime fishy going on.
Don’t believe everything they say
Remember another saying’ if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’. This is one clear cut sign when something is not right. Online dating creates an avenue where people can be anybody, own anything they dream about. They can be billionaires or even models with the most fabulous bodies. So, when he or she starts talking big, ask some hard questions and find a way to verify what they tell you. Remember, you can create any personality you want online.
Be Smart
It can be pretty easy to detect someone who isn’t real online. Like for instance Facebook. If he or she owns a Facebook page and you visit that page but all you see are just pictures of them only, no tags, no places they have visited, low friend count, no family photos or tags, it might most likely be a fake account so just cut them off. With most genuine people, it is quite easy to see from their social media pages a little about their everyday life and life in general.
Go the little extra mile to verify
Don’t beat yourself up if you decide to order a further background check on someone whom you are dating online. You are protecting yourself and that’s what matters. Get his or her name and order that check done by a reputable firm who you are sure you would get value for your money. Don’t just take their words alone, have an authority give you more proof.
They might be getting craftier, but we are also getting smarter. Protect yourself from being catfished by following these simple and easy tips. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Catch them at it before they catch you.